Recreational vehicle faucet

ABSTRACT

A recreational vehicle faucet accessible from outside the vehicle includes a housing having an inlet fitting connected to the fresh water supply. An outlet fitting and valve is provided in the housing interior for delivery of fresh water to the exterior of the vehicle through a hose connected to the valve. The housing includes a cover to close the housing interior and a mounting flange for mounting the housing to the vehicle side wall. In one embodiment of the invention, the housing provides a storage compartment for the hose.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to accessories for recreationalvehicles and particularly to an outside faucet assembly for arecreational vehicle.

[0002] Various types of vehicles are used and sold for recreationalpurposes and commercial purposes. When referred to herein, recreationalvehicles or commercial vehicles shall refer to motor homes, traveltrailers, campers and the like, as well as water craft, such as pleasureboats and pontoons. For example, a typical recreational vehicle is shownin U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,002, which is a motor driven style motor homehaving an interior living area defined by outer walls, including sidewalls along both sides. Recreational vehicles (RV's) and marine craftcarry a supply of fresh water for the convenience of the vehicleoccupants while using the vehicle. In addition to internal uses, theuser may also require fresh water outside the vehicle for suchactivities as washing or rinsing the vehicle exterior or washing orrinsing bicycles, scooters or trailered off-road vehicles such asall-terrain vehicles (ATV's) or motorcycles and the like. Depending onthe activity being engaged in, the user himself or herself may want towash his or her hands or rinse off gear, apparel, tools or equipmentbefore re-entering the vehicle. In addition, trailered boats andwatercraft benefit from a fresh water rinse after use.

[0003] Typically the user must locate a source of fresh water whichoften requires that the user drive or trailer the equipment or accessoryto a location providing fresh water. In addition to being inconvenient,this allows dirt, foreign matter, or contaminants to dry or otherwiseset on the items leaving undesirable deposits that become harder toremove at a later time. This can be particularly troublesome whenexposure to salt water or corrosive materials is involved or whereimmediate fresh water flushing of the accessory after use isrecommended.

[0004] Accordingly, a need exists for an apparatus that allows the userconvenient access to the on-board fresh water supply while outside thevehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides a faucet assembly that includes ahousing having an inlet fitting on the housing exterior that isconnectable to a fluid source. An outlet fitting is mounted inside thehousing. A valve attached to the outlet fitting controls fluid flow. Ina preferred embodiment, the valve can be a quick connect coupling. Theapparatus includes a hose connectable to the valve at one end and havinga spray nozzle at the other end. In one embodiment of the invention, thehousing has sufficient interior space to provide a compartment to storethe hose and nozzle. A cover is provided to close the compartment whennot in use.

[0006] The apparatus can be used with a recreational vehicle to providean outside water faucet. In such installations, the housing can bemounted in an aperture in a side wall of the vehicle. Preferably, thehousing includes a flange at the exterior end. The flange includes aplurality of mounting holes to mount the housing to the vehicle sidewall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0007]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the faucet assemblyaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the faucet housing assembly;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the housing assembly of thefaucet of FIG. 1 with the hose assembly removed;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a detailed view showing the hose assembly;

[0011]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the housing interior storingthe hose assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of housing assembly accordingto another embodiment of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the housing of FIG. 6;

[0014]FIG. 8 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 2, showinganother embodiment of the invention; and

[0015]FIG. 9 is a further perspective view similar to that of FIG. 2,showing another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principlesof the invention, reference will now be made to the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used todescribe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitationof the scope of the invention is thereby intended. The inventionincludes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrateddevices and described methods and further applications of the principlesof the invention which would normally occur to one skilled in the art towhich the invention relates.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the invention is shownas an outside recreational vehicle faucet assembly generally indicatedby the numeral 10. The assembly 10 includes a housing assembly 12 and ahose assembly 14 coupled to fluid supply line 16. With reference now toFIG. 2, the housing 12 will be described in greater detail.

[0018] The housing assembly 12 includes a housing body 20, a mountingflange 22, and a cover 24 hinged to the flange 22, and rear panel 26.Rear panel 26 encloses the housing body 20, and provides entry for fluidsupply line 16, through a check valve (not shown) to prevent water frombeing drawn in from the hose. Housing body 20 is a tubular member,having a front end 30 and a rear end 32, with a plurality of side walls34. Flange 22 includes a front face portion 40, a recessed surface 42, arear mounting face 44 where a plurality of mounting apertures 46 extendtherebetween. Flange 22 also includes an inner tubular extension section48, which is profiled for slidable receipt within housing body 20, asdescribed more fully herein. With reference still to FIGS. 2 and 3,cover 24 is hinged to flange 22 at hinge 50, and further comprises alatch handle 52, which operates latch member 54, on an inside of cover24. A counterpart latch boss 56 is shown which cooperates with latchmember 54. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the flange 22 is held tohousing body 20 by way of a plurality of fasteners 58. Meanwhile, rearplate 26 is held to housing body 20, by way of a plurality of fasteners60.

[0019] With respect now to FIGS. 2 and 3, fluid supply line 16 will bedescribed in greater detail. Fluid supply line 16 comprises an inletfitting 70 at one end and has an fitting 72 attached at another end ofsupply pipe 74. A valve can be attached to the outlet fitting 72 tocontrol fluid flow through the system. In one embodiment, the valve 76is a quick connect coupling and stopper valve; however, any of variousfluid control valves well known in the art can also be employed. In thepreferred version, supply pipe 74 is a PVC-type tube, but it should beappreciated that any type tubing could be used.

[0020] With reference now to FIG. 4, hose assembly 14 is shown ingreater detail. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, hose assembly 14 includeshose 80 shown with a male quick connect coupling 82 for use with thefemale coupling of valve 76, while a flow controlling nozzle 84 is shownat the other end. The hose 80 is shown pre-coiled and is shown as suchfor the purposes of illustration only, there being no intent to limitthe invention. Again, the coupling and the nozzle are shown for thepurpose of illustration and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0021] It should be appreciated that as assembled, the vehicle faucetassembly 10 could be mounted through a side wall of a recreationalvehicle. The unit would be mounted through an opening in the side wall,with fasteners holding the assembly in place. With reference to FIG. 5,the unit 10 is shown mounted to the side wall 100 of a recreationalvehicle. It should be appreciated that an aperture is cut through sidewall 100, such that it is larger than the profile of body member 20, butsmaller than the profile of flange 27. Fasteners 102 retain the assembly10 in place to side wall 100. It should also be appreciated that fitting70 is connected to the plumbing system of the vehicle, by way of acorresponding mating fitting (not shown) to supply water pressure to thesupply line 16. It should also be appreciated that body member 20 iselongate, such that hose assembly may be stored in housing assembly 12,as shown in FIG. 5. When needed for use, the hose assembly 14 would beremoved, and fittings 82, 30 would be connected to supply water pressureto hose assembly 14.

[0022] Front and rear views, respectively, of an auxiliary housingassembly 110 are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. One or more housings 110 may beplaced at other locations along the side walls of an RV, depending uponthe size of the RV. This would allow the user to remove the stored hoseassembly 14 from assembly 10 and use it with the housing assembly 10.

[0023] The faucet housing assembly 110 in FIGS. 6 and 7 is shortened anddoes not provide hose storage capability. The housing assembly 110includes a housing body 120 which includes a cover 124 and mountingflange 122. A quick connect coupling 130 is provided at the outlet inthe interior of the housing along with the rearward facing inlet fitting170 exterior to the housing.

[0024] With reference now to FIG. 8, yet another embodiment of assemblyis shown at 210. This embodiment is shown having a housing 212, wherebody section 220 is integrally molded with flange 22 and rear plate 226.The body portion 220 is shown partially broken away through rear end 232and through rear plate 226 to show an alternate fluid supply line 216.This fluid supply line 216 includes an inlet fitting 270, supply pipe274 and valve fitting 276. FIG. 8 still shows an elongate body portion220 which could house the hose assembly 14. It should be appreciatedthat body section 220, integrally molded with flange 222 and rear plate226, could also be used with fluid supply line 16, and likewise, ashortened fluid supply line 216 could be used with a housing bodysection described as member 20.

[0025] With reference now to FIG. 9, yet another embodiment of assemblyis shown at 310. This embodiment is shown having a cylindrical housingbody 312, a front housing portion 320, and a fluid supply line 316.Housing body 312 includes a cylindrical tube 322 adhesively fixed tofront housing portion 320 and to a rear plate 324. As in otherembodiments, front housing 320 includes a flange 326 and a rearrectangular section 328. Fluid supply line 316 includes an inlet fitting370 connected to supply pipe 374 which extends inwardly of cylindricaltube 322 to terminate in a valve fitting, similar to those fittingsdescribed above. FIG. 9 still shows an elongate body portion 312 whichcould house the hose assembly 14.

[0026] Any of the faucets of the present invention would preferably bemounted in the side wall of a recreational vehicle below the main floorlevel so as to be easily connected to the fresh water storage tanks. Oneor more housings could be plumbed to the fresh water supply.

[0027] Other applications of the recreational vehicle faucet of thepresent invention are also contemplated. For instance, the faucet couldbe used in marine applications. Many boat trailers also provide storagetanks for fresh water, which is to be used to rinse the boat hull and torinse the water cooling passages in the boat motor. In such anapplication, the faucet of the present invention could be mounteddirectly to the boat trailer and plumbed to the fresh water supply,thereby providing a convenient access to the fresh water supply forrinsing the boat hull and boat motor.

[0028] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detailin the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be consideredas illustrative and not restrictive in character. It should beunderstood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown anddescribed and that all changes and modifications that come within thespirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

What is claimed is:
 1. A plumbing apparatus comprising: an elongatehousing having first and second opposite ends and defining an interiorvolume therebetween; an inlet fitting attached to said housing andconnectable to a fluid source external to said housing; an outletfitting disposed within said interior volume of said housing and influid communication with said inlet fitting; a valve coupled to saidoutlet fitting, operable between a first state enabling fluid flow and asecond state inhibiting fluid flow; and a hose assembly, receivable insaid elongate housing for storage.
 2. The plumbing apparatus of claim 1,wherein said housing further includes a cover member to cover one ofsaid ends of said housing, said cover operable between a closed positionpreventing access to said interior volume and an opened positionallowing access to said interior volume.
 3. The plumbing apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said hose has one end adapted to be connected to saidvalve.
 4. The plumbing apparatus of claim 3, wherein said hose includesa nozzle connected to an end opposite said one end.
 5. The plumbingapparatus of claim 1, wherein said valve is a quick connect coupling andstopper valve.
 6. The plumbing apparatus of claim 1, further including afluid line interconnecting said inlet fitting and said outlet fitting.7. The plumbing apparatus of claim 6, wherein said fluid line positionssaid outlet fitting adjacent a front face of said elongate housing.
 8. Avehicle comprising: vehicle side walls having at least one aperturetherethrough; a water supply system; a housing received in said apertureof said side wall, said housing having an exterior end and an oppositeinterior end and defining an interior volume therebetween; an inletfitting attached to said water supply system; an outlet fitting disposedwithin said interior volume of said housing and in fluid communicationwith said inlet fitting; and a valve coupled to said outlet fitting,operable between a first state enabling fluid flow and a second stateinhibiting fluid flow.
 9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein said housingfurther includes a flange at said exterior end covering said aperture,said flange including a plurality of mounting holes, and a coverattached to said flange, said cover operable between a closed positionpreventing access to said interior volume and an opened positionallowing access to said interior volume.
 10. The vehicle of claim 8further includes a hose, said hose having one end adapted to beconnected to said valve.
 11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said hoseincludes a nozzle connected to an end opposite said one end.
 12. Thevehicle of claim, 10 wherein said housing is sized so that said hose andsaid nozzle are receivable within said interior volume for storagetherein.
 13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein said hose is coiled, witha diameter of said coil being adapted for receipt within said housing.14. The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising a fluid line whichpositions said outlet fitting adjacent to a front face of said housing.15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein said hose coil is receivable oversaid fluid line.
 16. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein said valve is aquick connect coupling.
 17. The vehicle of claim 8, further including afluid line interconnecting said inlet fitting and said outlet fitting.